KATHMANDU, Sept 28: Tourist arrivals in Pokhara have nearly come to a halt following the Bhotekoshi flood, prolonged rainfall and road disruptions. With domestic and foreign visitors largely absent from Nepal’s tourism capital, Pokhara used World Tourism Day to send a clear message: “Nepal is open, and Pokhara is ready to welcome tourists.”
Tourism entrepreneurs conveyed the message through a mini street festival held at Lakeside on Sunday evening. At a time when natural disasters have disrupted tourism across the country, the event sought to show that tourism activities in Pokhara remain open and businesses are prepared to receive visitors.
The festival, organised by the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal, Pokhara, aimed to reassure potential visitors that the tourism sector remains operational. Tourist arrivals have fallen sharply following the Bhotekoshi flood, disasters in other parts of the country and disruptions along the Prithvi Highway, the main road connecting Pokhara with Kathmandu.
Lakeside, normally crowded with domestic and international tourists, has remained unusually quiet. Against this backdrop, the festival brought some activity back to the area and sought to revive tourism.
The event featured cultural performances, entertainment and tourism promotion activities, with particular emphasis on Pokhara’s local culture, arts, cuisine and hospitality.
Nepali tourism entrepreneurs write to Chinese embassy to open N...
REBAN Pokhara President Basanta Gautam said the festival was organised to tell visitors that Pokhara remains safe and ready to welcome them despite the difficult circumstances facing the tourism industry.
“The Bhotekoshi flood and prolonged disruption of the main highway have badly affected Pokhara’s tourism industry. Bookings have been cancelled,” Gautam said. “Through the festival, we presented local art, culture, cuisine and hospitality and successfully conveyed the message that Pokhara’s tourist destinations are open and safe.”
Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said tourism in the city should not remain confined to Lakeside. He stressed the need to expand tourism destinations and services according to visitors’ interests and requirements.
“We need to develop tourism products and services according to what visitors to Pokhara want,” Acharya said. “Tourism activities should be expanded by connecting visitors with new destinations and experiences.”
He said tourism businesses should focus not simply on services they want to offer, but on what tourists actually need and expect.
Tourism entrepreneurs said visitor arrivals had suffered after the Prithvi Highway, which connects Pokhara with Kathmandu, remained affected for more than two weeks. Disruptions and increased risks along other road routes have further discouraged travel.
Pokhara Tourism Council President Hari Bhujel said events such as the street festival could help revive tourism activity in the city.
He also expressed optimism that Flydubai’s recent launch of flights on the Pokhara Dubai route would support the recovery of Pokhara’s tourism industry.
“The Flydubai service has expanded international air connectivity for Pokhara and Gandaki Province while helping tourism promotion and passenger movement,” Bhujel said. “If the service can be sustained over the long term, it can open opportunities not only for tourism but for other sectors as well.”
Weather conditions in Pokhara began improving on Sunday morning after days of continuous rainfall, bringing more people to Lakeside during the festival. Cultural performances, entertainment programmes and local cuisine featured prominently in the event.
Tourism entrepreneurs expect visitor arrivals to gradually recover as the impact of the Bhotekoshi flood and the monsoon subsides.
To mark World Tourism Day, tourism related organisations in Pokhara also welcomed foreign tourists arriving in the city by road and air.
